WO1985002162A1

WO1985002162A1 - Closure on a rectangular container for storing of liquid

Info

Publication number: WO1985002162A1
Application number: PCT/NO1984/000052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm Kullberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-15
Filing date: 1984-11-15
Publication date: 1985-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-15
Also published as: IT1177177B; DK152986C; NO158252B; IN163293B; NO158252C; ES292663Y; US4611753A; DK313585A; DK152986B; SE450243B; EP0162883B1; AU3612084A; IT8423555A0; IL73445A0; ES292663U; SE8503485L; SE8503485D0; KR850004554A; IT8423555A1; DE3464742D1

Abstract

Closure on rectangular container for storing of liquid, having a surrounding folding line (4) as the lower limitation of the closure and first (1) and second (1) similar, as well as third (3) and fourth (2) faces which are connected with each other and protruding from the surrounding folding line (4), whereby first and second faces both having folding lines (8) from the ends of the surrounding folding line (4) on each face, against the middle of the opposite edges of the faces, whereby the fourth face (2) being sealingly connected with first and second faces and the third side (3) being adapted to be folded down to the remaining parts of first and second faces, whereby the length of the fourth face (2) perpendicular to the surrounding folding line (4), being shorter than half of the distance between the corresponding opposite sides of the container, thereby providing an air opening (6) to the inner part of the container between the inner edge of the fourth face (2) and protruding peaks (9) of the first and second faces, the inner edge of the third face (3) being provided with an extension (7) in the middle, which by sealed closure is overlaying the fourth face (2) and by open closure constitutes a non-drip spout, and the joint (10) of the container's sides being arranged in the symmetrical axis of the third face.

Description

This invention is related to a closure according to the preamble of the claims.

In the market there exists a great number of closure designs for rectangular containers, includingsquare 5 containers, which can be sealed in such a way that the container is well suited for accomodation of liquids of different kinds.

The demands on such containers are connected with different phases of treatment through which they conti- 10 nuously pass. In this connection demands must be presented t the blank configuration for thereby achieving a suitable manufacturing, the producer ofthe content has to rely on the possibility for a secure sealing of the container and a suit¬ able industrial treatment, by transporation of the containers 15 from the manufacturer a maximum utilization of the transport volume and finally it should be easy for the consumer to open the container, to pour the content out of it in a secure way and in most of the cases it should be possible to close the container for further use. Especially considerations have to 20 be taken because of the fact that several consumers have relatively weak fingers which create big problems by several of the present container types on the market today.

Among known containers for storage of liquids, especially milk and refreshing drinks, three principally 25 different kinds are wide spread. One type is manufactured by planar welding of a tubular container having two welds perpen¬ dicular and remote each other in such a way that a tetrahedron is created. As such the configuration of a tetrahedron makes it possible to be placed in a stack but it is not very suitabl **-° for the consumer or in connection with transportation or storing which normally is based on a rectangular configuration

Containers having rectangular configurations achieved by two parallel weldings on a tubular container also are known. In this case the ends of the weldings thereafter ^ are bent down, respectively up, around the side surfaces of the container. The possibility to be placed in a stack is good, however, the configuration requires tearing off or cutti off at least one of the protruding ends of the weldings which for the consumer creates an unfavourable device for pouring in

SUBSTITUTE SHEET V y, addition to the inconvenience with, cutting or tearing off the ends.

In a third principle solution two opposite side surfaces are pressed together having the other opposite 6 side surfaces folded between. Hereby a reasonable convenient configuration is achieved in connection with pouring the liq id out of the container. The configuration of the closure may be such that the closure creates a planar surface or a roof ridge form. In both cases the solutions existing in the

10 market have shown that a relatively large force must be provided to tear off the welding after sealing. The roof ridge form which at some places is relatively wide spread, additio¬ nally is unsatisfactory in connection with transportation and storage as it does not allow stacking of several containers on

15 each other and the closure as such occupies a relatively large volume which cannot be used, corresponding as much as up to 40% of the total height of the container.

Ωie above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided by the closure according to the invention which enables stackin

²⁰ of several containers above each other, economical transportati and storage, very simple opening of the container closure, a guided pouring of the content, which avoids a mess of the liquid and which further makes possible a locking of the closure for later use.

_?__ These advantages by the closure according to the invention are achieved by the features described in the characterizing clauses of the claims.

Fig. 1 in the drawing discloses an open closure before sealing. Fig. 2 discloses a stamped blank for

30 a container. Fig. 3 discloses the closure after sealing.

Fig. 4 discloses the closure after opening, as seen from above.

Fig. 5 discloses in perspective a closure which is locked after the sealing has been broken, and Fig. 6 discloses blanks for containers arranged for maximum utilization of the material

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Fig. 1 discloses the closure in open position before sealing, where a stamped blank is folded to a tubular structure having an overlap joint 10 in the symmetry axis of one side face . The extension of this face creates a third face 3 in the closure. The third face 3 having in the middle a further extension 7 which later, by pouring liquid out of the container, will serve as a non-drip spout. A tape 11 i located on the underside of the third face 3 and is protrudi * above the extension 7, whereby the tape 11 in the closure an

5 possibly in the container, is arranged to cover the joint 10 The third face 3 also comprises two folding lines 12 running from the outer edges of the face from a folding line 4 which is running around all four faces of the container, and further up to the extension 7. 10 Fig. 1 also discloses that the third face 3

. comprises two further extensions which after the first opening of the container, serve as locking lips 5.

The opposite first and second faces 1 are symmetrical and also comprise folding lines 8 from the foldi ^•^ line 4 at the outer edges of the face, up to the upper middl point. The fourth face 2 comprises no folding lines. The length of the fourth face 2 perpendicular to the folding lin 4, is smaller than the corresponding length of the third fac 3. Therefore, the upper edge of first and second faces 1 will

20 be bevelled from the third face down to the fourth face'.

By sealing the closure first and second faces 1 are folded to the middle and the fourth face 2 is folded above these. Thereafter the third face 3 is folded above the remaining parts of first and second faces 1 and abutting the

25 fourth face 2 in such a way that the estension 7 and the locking lips 5 as well as the tape 11 are arranged on the upper surface of the fourth face 2. The tape 11 is releasabl secured to the upper surface of the fourth face 2.

The closure may be sealed by providing a

30 backing tool from the other side of the container, whereby th container is filled with liquid from the bottom which there¬ after is sealed.

By opening of the closure the outer part of the tape 11 is pulled straight upwards in the direction of th

35 container. T-hereby the sealing of the third face 3 is broken and this face is folded up together with the extension 7 and the locking lips 5. Hie tape 11 easily is tsared off by means of anattenuation line, across the longitudinal direction of th tape, arranged between the extension 7 and the folding line 4 on the third face 3. The tape 11 thereafter can be thrown away.

The closure hereby is prepared for pouring ou the content of the container whereby a suitable pouring devic 5 is achieved by the extension 7 as a non-drip spout, as well as an opening 6 for air which from the first moment provides admittance for air to the internal part of the container. The air opening 6 is provided between the upper edge of the fourth face 2 and the inner peaks 9 of first and second faces 1. 1 If the container should be used also after¬ wards, the closure may be locked by folding the third face 3 against the fourth side face 2 and pressing the locking lips 5 below the edge of the fourth face 2 by a light finger pressu against the third face 3, near the locking lips 5. ¹⁵ Also the extension 7 may be used for locking the closure by pressing the extension 7 below the edge of the fourth face 2. By a further embodiment of the invention only this extension 7 is used for locking the closure and the closu as such does not have any locking lips 5.

Opening of the closure is very easily performe by gripping the outer side edges of the third face 3 and lifti this up.

Fig. 6 discloses that the configuration of the blank for the container including the closure according to the

______ invention, provides very good utilization of the material.

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OMP

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Closure on a rectangular container for sto of liquid, having a continuous folding line (4) as the low limitation of the closure and first (1) and second (1) sim as well as third (3) and fourth (2) faces which are connec with each other andprotrude from the folding line (4), whe first and second faces both comprise folding lines (8) fro the ends of the surrounding folding line (4) on each face, against the middle of the opposite edge of each face, wher the fourth face (2) is sealingly connected with first and second faces and the third face (3) is adapted to be folde above the remaining parts of first and second faces, CHARACTERIZED in that the lenght of the fourth face (2) perpendicular to the surrounding folding line (4) is short than half of the distance between the opposite sides of th container, thereby providing an air opening (6) to the inn part of the container between the inner edge of the fourth face (2) and the folded inwardly protruding peaks (9) of first and second faces, the inner edge of the third face ( being provided with an extension (7) in the middle, which by sealed closure is arranged above the fourth face (2) an by open closure provides a non-drip spout, and the joint (1 of the sides of the container being arranged in the symmet axis of the third face.

2. Closure according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZE in that a tape (11) is provided on the inner side of the joint (10), from the bottom of the container, on the under side of the third face and the extension and further above surface of the fourth face to which the tape is releasably secured, whereby an outer tip of the tape (11) is free and easy to grip for opening of the closure from sealed conditi and the tape (11) by opening of the closure, is teared off suitable weakening lines on the underside of the third face (3), thereby being free from the closure.

3. Closure according to claim 1-2, CHARACTERIZ in that at least one locking lip (5) constitutes an extensi of the third face (3) between the extension (7) and the out side edge, the locking lip or locking lips (5) thereby b

SUBSTITUTE SHEET adapted for, after the first opening of the closure, to be pressed below the inner edge of the fourth face (2) thereby locking the third face (3) to the fourth face.

4. Closure according to claim 1-2, CHARACTERIZE in that the extension (7) on the third face (3) is adapted, after braking the sealing of the closure, to be pressed belo the inner edge of the fourth face (2) , thereby locking the third face (3) to the fourth face (2) .